Calumet City Woman Arrested After Washing Stolen Car In Hammond
Tatitana Forest, 43, of Calumet City, is facing felony charges after authorities say she was found driving a stolen vehicle and later discovered to be in possession of suspected crack cocaine Monday afternoon in Hammond.
According to court documents, around 2:50 p.m. March 2, 2026, an officer in the area of the 5100 block of State Line Avenue received a notification from a dash-mounted license plate reader that a stolen vehicle had been detected nearby. Police confirmed the stolen vehicle, identified as a Chevrolet Spark with Illinois passenger license plate,had entered an automatic car wash at that location.
Officers requested backup and positioned themselves as the vehicle exited the car wash. Police boxed the vehicle in near the exit of the car wash and made contact with the female driver.
Court documents state the woman initially identified herself as “Tatianna Olanroia.” A records check through dispatch reportedly returned no results for the name provided. When officers asked again, the woman reportedly provided a different spelling of her last name, which also did not return in law enforcement databases, leading officers to believe she was providing false identifying information.
Police took the woman into custody and transported her to the Hammond City Jail. While jail staff conducted a pat-down search during the booking process, a small clear bag containing a white rock-like substance fell from inside Forest’s shirt, according to the affidavit.
Based on training and experience, officers believed the substance to be crack cocaine. Police reported the suspected narcotic weighed approximately 2.8 grams and field testing indicated a positive result for cocaine.
Investigators later contacted the registered owner of the vehicle, who confirmed the 2020 Chevrolet Spark had been reported stolen near a dollar store in Chicago and that no one had permission to take possession of the vehicle.
Authorities also learned Forest had an active arrest warrant out of LaPorte County at the time of the incident.
Charges filed March 3,2026:
• Possession of Cocaine — Level 6 Felony
• Theft (Motor Vehicle) — Level 6 Felony
